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Jewelry Retail Stores
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Before we start, if you're wondering why you should even be buying from jewelry retail stores online, just consider the following:
- Speed: Search, select, enter your info and click! Couldn’t be easier.
- Variety: You can easily compare hundreds of options and prices.
- Returns and Service: Most top notch internet retailers have very liberal return policies, usually 30 days with full refund. Verify before you buy!
- Value: Internet stores generally operate with much lower costs than traditional brick and mortar retailers, and should be in a position to pass these savings to you.
- Security: Follow the guidelines we give on our guide to designer fashion shopping online.
- Authenticity: Shop only from reputable businesses, same as you would offline
- Information: Many sites offer lots of great information on the products that they sell, and it’s there for the taking, whether you buy from them or not. It’s never been easier to become an informed consumer. Learn about diamonds, pearls, how to judge quality, the latest trends, how to clean, and more, right from your computer.
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As with other accessories, jewelery can make or break your attire. Unlike other accessories, jewelery usually serves no utilitarian need. It decorates and accents. It has an enormous power to draw attention. The secret here is to be in control of this power, to use it to highlight those features that you wish to highlight.
Like much of the advise we’ve given throughout this site to enhance your denim outfit, it’s not that difficult. In fact, most of it is just common sense stuff that you probably already do instinctively. Still, to have it all under control, it’s worth putting some guidelines down in black and white. There is enormous leeway in jewelry selection, and you should view it as one of the most powerful ways of making a personal statement of style.
And by the way, our tips on wearing jewelry are rather general and should hold true whether you use costume jewelry, high end designer jewelry, or unique craft jewelry. Gold or gold plated? Just a matter of budget! The question of appropriateness for the occasion may be relevant here, but we’ll leave that for a future article.
Body Type vs. Scale
The six body types that we used as the basis of our search for the perfect jeans are not the best parameter when it comes to selecting jewelery. Scale is by far the biggest issue here. One of the greatest pitfalls in fashion is overlooking the effect that proper scaling can have on your overall look. Scale also plays a very important role in the selection of other accessories and clothing details such as prints, stripes, trims, collars, buttons, pockets and zippers.
So, what are the rules? It’s as simple as this: If you are small, wear small, if you are tall, wear larger detailing, if you are average, use your best judgment. Remember, your body works like a “backdrop” upon which these accents are viewed, and thus the perception of your size will be affected by what you are placing next to you, whether it’s a brooch, a handbag, or a pattern.
Earrings
These little marvels draw attention to your face, and as such should flatter your basic shape and coloring. The basic styles are: studs, pearls, hoops and long dangling earrings (chandeliers). These will vary in size, proportions and intricacy, so no one style is perfect for a specific face. Here are some very general guidelines:
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- For an oval shaped face: You can wear almost any type, just avoid very long dangling earrings. Round, triangular, button or hoop earrings will look great on this face, considered to be “perfect shape”.
- For a triangular or heart shaped face: The opposite shape, a pear shaped earring, will add balance. Look for dangling triangular earrings.
- For a round face: Try a longer, hanging earing to accentuate a vertical line. Square, rectangular and angular designs will add balance.
- For a long or rectangular face: Avoid long, dangling earrings. Medium to large circular shapes will work well for you.
The proportion must also be right. Don’t feel self conscious about verifying the look of your earrings in a full length mirror.
Necklaces
Length is the primary factor in selecting a necklace. It must first work with the neckline of your top and the occasion. The longer lengths will accentuate the bust, as that is where they fall, while the shorter lengths will focus attention on the neckline. These are the most common lengths:
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- Collars: They fit snugly around the middle of your neck, and are usually composed of three or more strands. They work well with almost any collar, especially boat neck, V-neck, or off the shoulder fashions.
- Chokers: They measure from 13” to 16” and are close fitting and should sit comfortably above the collar line. Classic and versatile, they work well with a V-neck or boat neck. They will accentuate your neckline.
- Princess Length: Measuring between 17” and 19”, they should rest just below the collar bone. It is adequate for crew, high or plunging necklines and is the most common length for pearl necklaces. This is the most appropriate necklace for attaching pendants.
- The Matinée: Measures between 20” and 24”, and should rest on the breast area. Best for high necklines and ideal for casual or business attire, but will also work well with more formal gowns.
- Opera Length: The longest of these are from 28” to 34”, and will add a sense of luxury as it drapes down to your midsection. It can also be doubled to create a two strand choker. Appropriate for very high necklines and traditionally worn with evening wear, although using them to accessorize a more informal outfit can add a fresh, fashion forward touch to your look.
- Lariat or Rope: Over 38”, usually at least 45” in length, the lariat usually has no clasp, and ends are tied in a knot. A Rope may or may not have a clasp. These necklaces can also be wrapped or looped around in many creative ways. This long necklace is exuberant and sexy, and lends itself for the creation of luxurious multi-strand chokers. When tied in a knot, it is reminiscent of fashion of the 1920’s.
They are the simplest way to accessorize and add a finishing, balancing touch to “your composition”. Hands can attract a great deal of attention, as many of us tend to talk with our hands or otherwise gesture with them. When selecting rings, the length of your fingers will be a crucial factor. Women with long fingers will have a wider array of choices in rings, as tall women do with jeans. Here are some basic guidelines to consider:
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- For a thin, long fingered hand, a round or oval setting as will a wider band will provide balance
- For hands with shorter fingers, a setting that stays within the knuckle and with a narrower band, will look best
- Oval or marquis shaped stones will help elongate the appearance of the hand
Rings can be very effective if they harmonize with your necklace and/or earrings, as well as the rest of your outfit. Like any other accessory, they should be appropriate for the occasion. My personal preference is for at most one ring on each hand, as I feel that too many simply eclipse your fingers and may also interfere with the actual use of your hands. This is especially true for the chunkier rings. And finally, don’t forget that you will be attracting attention to your hands, so keep them nicely manicured, and don’t hide them.
Pins and Brooches
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Bracelets
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When jewelry shopping online, you will be overwhelmed by the variety of bracelets in the market. They can be feminine, fun and sexy… they can also help dramatize an outfit with a higher neckline. If you have larger arms, go for larger bracelets or cuffs. A small bracelet will just make your arms look larger. Petite women will be better served by bangles than by one over sized bracelet.
When buying from an online jewelry retail store, keep the following in mind:
- Think proportions and scale
- Avoid more than two accessories around your face: wear earrings with a necklace or with a brooch, not all three at the same time.
- Big and bold jewelery and prints are a definite no-no,
- Understand the “feeling” of your choices in jewelery. They can take your jeans outfit from glamorous to urban. Just decide to be in control of the look that you want to createand the appropriateness for the occasion.
- Don’t let your jewelry compete with your outfit. With jeans, however, unless they are highly embellished, you can get away with more daring choices, such as larger pendants or charms . The simpler the outfit, the bolder you can be.
- Jewelery is an attention grabber, and screams out, “look at me, I’m daring.” Being daring,, however, is not a valid justification for over accessorizing. Every outfit has it’s breaking point, it’s balance. Jeans are no exception, and that balance will be determined by the how you accessorize and the degree of embellishment on the jeans themselves.
Build your outfit around a theme, which may be your super embellished jeans, or a great handbag or necklace. This doesn’t mean “just add more stuff to it”. It means work with it, compliment it, don’t detract from it, don’t compete with it. The rule of thumb when accessorizing your jeans, as with any other outfit, will be less is more, and nowhere else are women more likely to forget this rule than in choosing jewelery. Now you can visit any jewelry retail store armed with all of the knowledge that you need!
